The crisis in Caucasus will be put on tapis at the EU extraordinary
Summit Meeting in Brussels today. The "27" will discuss the
implementation of the six-point plan agreed by Sarkozy and Medvedev, as
well as the general framework of EU-Russia relations. The French PM
stated that Sarkozy intends to visit Moscow and Tblisi again to
contribute to the resolution of the Russian-German conflict. He
reiterated that Paris against the imposition of sanctions against
Moscow, questioning Washingtons tough line it had adopted from the
beginning of the crisis. However, Britain called on the EU today to
postpone the talks scheduled for 15 September on a fresh cooperation
with Russia. From its side, Moscow has stated it is ready to accept the
deployment of OSCE observers in Caucasus region despite President
Medvedevs decision to stand firm on the recognition of South Ossetia
and Abkhazia. In parallel, he warned the West, through Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov not to support the Georgian leadership, demanding an
embargo on arms for Georgia for as long as Mikheil Saakashvili remains
president. These statements are expected to trigger the strong reaction
of the USA and the EU. The EU should not withdraw from its positions on
a conflict with Russia on two regions that seceded from Georgia stated
the Georgian President. Meanwhile, his country admitted to the Human
Rights Observatory the use of cluster bombs in South Ossetia.

Observers to be Deployed by Mid-October

Press Secretary of the EU Foreign Minister Xavier Solana has stated th
at the European leaders are expected to approve the deployment of
European observers, who will monitor the implementation of truce in
Georgia, hoping that their deployment will be possible until the next
EU Summit Meeting in mid-October.

In Search of Unity

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has reiterated that Paris is
against the imposition of sanctions against Moscow, requesting the EU
to remain united. He described Russia a big country that had been
humiliated in the last 20 years. As a result the EU should find ways to
hold a dialogue with Russia.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Fratini stated that Russia should not
be considered a hostile country but a strategic partner with whom
relations should not be interrupted. He also told Corriere della Sera
newspaper that if there are countries which argue that we should break
our relations with Russia then they should tell us how we would manage
to deal with Irans nuclear programme.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kushner stated that the French EU
presidencys proposal speaks of a balanced and strict text that does not
propose sanctions, but instead specific steps to be taken. He also
admitted that there different views among the EU member-states.

Lavrov on Relations between Russia and the West

A few hours before the EU Summit Meeting Russian Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov used strict language on the new form of relations between
Russia and the West.

Russias decision to send troops to Georgia has set new criteria on the
basis of which Moscow will be defending its national interests stated
Lavrov, making it clear that his country will not succumb to pressure.

He said that Russia would continue defending its interests in the
international scene, without wrangling, except in emergency cases,
demanding an embargo to be imposed to the dispatch of arms to Georgia.

Regarding its relations with the USA, Lavrov added that America should
recognize what had been called post-American world and begin adapting
to this new world. Furthermore, he reported that Russia would continue
talking with the US for as long as there is the slightest hope to
understand one another and agree. "We are ready to cooperate with any
America," he said.

At the same time, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has ordered
that the construction of the East Siberia Pacific Ocean oil pipeline
proceed without delays. The pipeline will begin from eastern Siberia
and end at the Pacific Ocean. Putin signed a government directive "to
accelerate the construction of the ESPO phases and to prevent delays"
in its commissioning during an inspection visit to the construction
site of the specialized oil port Kozmino.

At a Press Conference, PASOK Parliamentary Group Secretary spoke of
result rigging at the final vote at the Constitutio reform on 27/5/2008
by ND MPs. The MPs changed the ballots. Present at the Press Conference
were Parliament Deputy President Filippos Petsalnikos and the party
spokesman Giorgos Papakonstantinou. A relevant video was screened,
depicting Mr Bougas, signing the MPs ballots, as well as ND MPs
Tragakis, F. Patrianakos and Agorastos.

The above MPs change or crush the ballots already collected.

He also held responsible the PM and the Parliaments Presidium for
degrading the Parliamentary procedure. PASOK President George
Papandreou communicated with the SYN, KKE and LAOS parties and provided
them with the relevant video.

The draft bill on doping and on the fight against violence in sports is
expected to be submitted today in Parliament.

Earlier, minister of Culture Michalis Liapis and deputy minister of
Athletics Giannis Ioannidis had a meeting and are expected to give a
press conference later.

As Mr. Liapis stressed in his announcements "the state wants medals but
this will not be achieved by every cost and price", and made clear that
football courts will turn into places of family celebrations.

"The conflict with all those involved in doping cases will be frontal",
Mr. Ioannidis said in his interview in "NEA" newspaper and noted: "We
are moving to the direction of making strict rules in the institutional
framework, imposing stricter penalties for offenders that use,
distribute and sell illegal substances.

According to the draft bill, strict penalties will be imposed to
coaches, athletes and people involved in illegal substances usage.
Sentences imposed will include financial fines and 3 years of
imprisonment.

Starting from today, state social secured citizens as well as citizens
insured in the Organization of Social Insurance of Self-Employed and in
Athens Lawyers Fund will pay for their medication cash. Attika and
Piraeus Pharmaceutical Organizations will not provide medicines by
public credit as Social Funds delay to pay them back. Talking to NET
105.8 state radio, president of the Pharmaceutical Organization of
Piraeus, Kosta Kouvaris stressed that the Presidential Decree to be
applied will resolve the issue.

A major discovery could open the door to "one-fits-all" cancer drugs
that can tackle many different forms of the disease. Researchers have
started to unmask an enzyme that plays a major role in the development
of nearly all human cancers. The work may lead to drugs that
de-activate the enzyme, and prevent the uncontrolled cell division that
leads to cancer.

Experts have been trying for more than a decade to devise anti-cancer
therapies that target the enzyme, telomerase. But they have been
thwarted by lack of knowledge about the molecules construction.

Researchers have now deciphered the enzymes active region and worked
out the most important part of its structure.

The new findings, published in the online edition of the journal
Nature, reveal atomic-level details of telomerase showing how it works
to replicate the ends of chromosomes - a process critical both to
tumour development and ageing.

The results are expected to boost development of telomerase
inhibitors. Study leader Dr Emmanuel Skordalakes, from The Wistar
Institute in Philadelphia, US, said: "Telomerase is an ideal target for
chemotherapy because it is active in almost all human tumours, but
inactive in most normal cells. That means a drug that deactivates
telomerase would likely work against all cancers, with few side
effects." Telomerase helps prevent the chromosomes - bundles of DNA
which contain the genes - suffering damage and the loss of genetic
information during cell division.

The enzyme adds protective "caps" known as "telomeres" to the ends of
chromosomes which act like the plastic tips on shoe laces that prevent
fraying.

When telomerase is dormant, the telomeres shorten each time a cell
divides, eventually leading to genetic instability and cell death. This
is a key element of the ageing process. The enzyme is active in cells
that multiple frequently, such as immature cells in embryos, but
switched off almost completely in normal adult cells.

However cancer cells often regain the ability to activate telomerase,
allowing them to replicate indefinitely, and the enzyme has been
implicated in 90 per cent of human tumours.

FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) Prime Minister N.
Gruevski appeared pessimistic over the possibility for a solution of
name-issue in the next round of UN-sponsored talks in September

He also told A1 Radio station in Skopje that he does not expect the US
policy to change after the presidential elections, adding that the US
has told FYROM to find a compromising solution with Greece in order to
join NATO and the EU.

Visiting Egratia odos works, Environment Minister Giorgos Souflias
stated that the central road axis of Egnatia odos, from Igoumenitsa to
Kipi, Evros will be ready for use until the end of 2008. Moreover, he
said that until the end of 2009 three vertical axes of Egnatia odos
will be delivered for use gradually.

The first toll posts of Egnatia odos will operate at Polimilos, between
Veria and Kozani, while the Egnatia project is expected to be ready by
the end of the year.

The project will allow drivers to cover the distance from Igoumenitsa
to Evros n 5.5 hours instead of 13, which is today.

Τα έργα στην περιοχή επιθεώρησε ο υπουργός ΠΕΧΩΔΕ Γιώργος Σου

6,100-metre-long Tunnel

Mr Souflias inaugurated the commencing of works for the T2, the biggest
tunnel in Greece with a length of 6,100 metres.

At the same time, works for the opening of the T1 a 1,900-metre-long
tunnel and 3,200-metre-long T3 tunnel are in progress.

The project will cost 1.3 billion euros and will last 4.5 years. The
Raches Maliakou-Klidi Imathia motorway will be 230 kilometres long.

The illation of a committee to exclude 61 professions from the list of
heavy duty professions has caused the strong reaction of the opposition
and Trade Unions. PAME also protested. The All Workers Militant Front
(PAME) protested before the Development Ministry, while earlier they
told a Press Conference that they would not accept the exclusion of the
61 professions.

The Committee President Panagiotis Behrakis told NET 105.8 that no
employee would be affected by the changes, which will concern only the
newcomers in the labour market.

From his side, the GSEE president accused Mr Behrakis of political
expediency, adding that professions that vital to the Social Security
System have been excluded.

According to the police and rescue services, 16 people among them two
children died in the weekend in deadly fires that swept Southern Africa
and are now rekindling strengthened by strong winds. Two children of 8
and 11 years were killed when their shanty was wrapped in flames in the
south of the country. In eastern area Kwazulu-Natal fires killed 13
people and injured 25. Strong winds and slight rainfalls are the main
reason fires brake out every year in the country.

The head in UN humanitarian issues John Holmes visited today Ethiopia
where 8 million residents have been hit by drought. Holmes is expected
to visit the southern part of the country that has been mostly hit by
drought and will also have contacts with Ethiopian officers on the
issue. According to OCHA, "4,6 million people need immediate help while
8 billion need nutrition in Ethiopia where population rises to almost
80 million. UN had made an appeal in June for the raising of 221,6
million for provision of food and medicines to the victims. However,
OCHA announced that only 52% of the amount has been raised.

The incident occurred early today when an armor vehicle, transferring
ELTAs amount of money was driving in the national highway of
Chania-Rethymno. Two lorries-trucks that had been stolen from yard with
building material stopped the ELTA vehicle and 4 armed forced the
driver and the man sitting next to him to get out of the car slightly
injuring the driver. Then they took the money, got into another car
that was also stolen and disappeared. According to the president of
Chanias ELTA Worker Union, the robbers stole 70.000 that would have
been provided to pensioners of mountainous areas in Apokorona.

Two witnesses one of whom has entered an eye witness protection
programme will testify on Monday on Siemens case. At the end of
September prosecutor, Nikos Zagoranos who is handling the case will go
to Hague in order to participate in the Three Nations Meeting of Judges
and to exchange information on the case with his counterparts from
Germany and Swiss. Prosecutor handling the case is expected to collect
important evidence on the case. What must be noted is that the judicial
preliminary examination traced a Greek holder of an off shore company
also involved on the case.